You walk in planning to grab one paperback, and twenty minutes later your arms are full and your plans for the afternoon are gone. Colorado has a solid lineup of used bookstores that make this happen on purpose, with tall shelves, trade-in credit, and prices that keep a reading habit affordable. Some sit on busy Front Range streets, while others anchor small-town Main Streets on the Western Slope and in Fremont County.
This list covers seven shops worth knowing, from Denver to Grand Junction, so your next quick stop can turn into a happy haul.
1. West Side Books & Curios, Denver, CO
Step stools are part of the shopping experience on West 32nd Avenue. The shelves at West Side Books & Curios run so tall that you may need a boost to reach the top rows.
The shop carries new, used, rare, and collectible books, and the used section spans just about every category you can name. Gifts and accessories fill in the gaps, which makes it handy when you need a present and a novel in the same trip.
I like that the store also conducts book searches. If a specific title has slipped through your fingers for years, the staff can go hunting for it, and the shop hosts events too.
Hours are generous, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week. Sundays tend to draw the biggest crowds, so Monday or Wednesday mornings are the calmer bet for a slow browse.
Free street parking in the Highland neighborhood is a nice bonus for anyone used to paying for a Denver errand.
2. The Bookworm, Boulder, CO
Bring a bag of old books and leave with new-to-you ones. That trade-in system is the heart of The Bookworm on 28th Street in Boulder.
The store buys hardbacks and paperbacks and gives store credit in return. That credit can cover half of your purchase, which stretches a reading budget in a city where very little else is cheap.
Inside, the selection is large and covers a wide range of eras. You can bounce from recent fiction to older titles that are hard to find on any new-release table.
Plan around the schedule. The shop is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and closed Sunday.
A free parking lot and free Wi-Fi make it an easy stop, especially if you are juggling errands along the 28th Street corridor.
3. Poor Richard’s Bookstore, Colorado Springs, CO
Few bookstores let you shop, eat, and keep reading without leaving the building. Poor Richard’s on North Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs pairs its bookstore with an attached cafe and restaurant.
The used section is organized and curated, sitting right next to a varied stock of new releases. Used prices are reasonable, which is exactly how a planned single purchase becomes a stack.
Books cover all ages and genres. The store also carries reading accessories and fun gifts, so the kids and the gift list are both covered.
It stays open late for a bookstore, until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 8 p.m. the rest of the week. Tuesday mornings are the quietest window, while weekend afternoons get busy.
Parking is paid street parking downtown, so keep a few minutes on the meter. You will probably need them.
4. The Eclectic Reader, Fort Collins, CO
Rare and vintage titles are the calling card here. The Eclectic Reader on West Drake Road focuses on used books, with an extensive collection of older and harder-to-find volumes.
Hours are limited, so timing matters. The shop is closed Monday through Wednesday, opens 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday, and 12:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
That short schedule is worth working around. The selection is wide, and the front desk is helpful if you cannot track down a specific title on your own.
I would save this one for a slow weekend afternoon when you have time to wander the shelves without watching the clock.
Free on-site parking keeps things simple, which is welcome near the busy Colorado State University side of town.
5. Grand Valley Books, Grand Junction, CO
Western Slope readers do not have to cross the mountains for a big used book selection. Grand Valley Books sits at 350 Main Street in downtown Grand Junction.
The independent shop mixes a large stock of used books with a good amount of new ones. Many used copies are lightly worn, and the overall selection leans eclectic.
The store buys used books, so cleaning out a bookshelf at home can turn into a reason to visit. That keeps the shelves turning over with fresh finds.
Hours run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with Sundays closed.
Its spot on Main Street makes it easy to pair with a walk through the rest of downtown.
6. Black & Read Music, Books & Games, Arvada, CO
Books are only part of the haul at Black & Read. This Arvada store on Wadsworth Boulevard stocks new and used books alongside music, records, board games, tabletop games, and collectibles.
The stacks are famously maze-like, and that controlled chaos is part of the fun. Staff know the layout well and can steer you toward what you are after.
Longtime shoppers may remember the store’s earlier location. The current spot keeps the same sprawling, dig-around personality.
Families do well here since kids can browse games while adults hunt for paperbacks or vinyl. A free parking lot helps.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
7. Cheryl’s Book Nook, Cañon City, CO
Books to the ceiling and not much of a system. That is the charm of Cheryl’s Book Nook on Main Street in Cañon City.
The store is an expansive used book shop with a vast selection and fair prices. It rewards readers who enjoy digging rather than heading straight to a labeled shelf.
Cheryl’s also buys used books, a nice option for anyone in Fremont County looking to make space at home.
Plan for a weekday or Saturday visit. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
For Front Range readers, it makes an easy small-town day trip, with a stack of books as the souvenir.
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